Driver, jeepney owner face P2-M fine, 12 years of imprisonment for operating colorum PUV
A passenger jeepney driver and the owner of the vehicle he was driving are now facing P2 million fine and imprisonment of up to 12 years for operating a colorum public utility vehicle (PUV).
That would be the penalty on Benito Ollete and Julhapas Tantong if they are found guilty of violating the Section 18 relating to Section 24 of Commonwealth Act 146 as amended by Republic Act 11659, or the Public Service Act, according to Land Transportation Office (LTO) chief Vigor D. Mendoza II.
Mendoza said the filing of the case stemmed from the apprehension of Ollete at around 3 p.m. on Oct. 25 in Balintawak, Quezon City.
The LTO Chief earlier ordered an intensified campaign against colorum PUVs in response to the order of Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista based on the complaints of transport groups that said they have been losing 30 percent of their daily income from illegal operations of PUVs.
When Ollete was flagged down, the passenger jeepney he was driving was loaded with 17 passengers who were asked to pay P70 each from Balintawak to Marilao in Bulacan.
Ollete presented his driver’s license and official receipt/certificate of registration of the vehicle but failed to present a document that the vehicle is authorized to be used as a PUV.
The vehicle was later impounded and Tantong was later identified as the owner of the vehicle.
“This is but proof that we are serious in our anti-colorum drive. I hope that this will send a strong message to all the other drivers and operators of colorum PUVs to stop their illegal operations now,” said Mendoza.
Mendoza said he already created a legal team to focus in handling the case.